Pre-employment training requirements for fluid power skilled workers and technicians

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to provide information to curricular planners in fluid power education. The study had two objectives: (a) to determine what job-related skills and knowledge were needed by the fluid power industry's skilled workers and technicians, and (b) to determine if training needs differ for fluid power personnel among the aerospace, marine, mobile, and stationary classifications of industry. A 77-item survey instrument was developed to examine 11 content areas in fluid power technology, with a general information section that requested data about the responding industries. A random sample of 73 industrial representatives ranked the content items according to their perceptions of industrial value. Data generated from the questionnaire were analyzed using Friedman's two-way analysis of variance to test the null hypotheses that: (Ho(,1)) No significant difference exists between the aerospace, marine, mobile, and stationary classes of industry with regard to competencies desired for fluid power skilled workers. (Ho(,2)) No significant difference exists between the aerospace, marine, mobile, and stationary classes of industry with regard to competencies desired for fluid power technicians. (Ho(,3)) No significant difference exists between the competencies desired by employers for skilled workers and the competencies desired for technicians. Statistical differences were not found at the .05 level for the first (chi-square = 5.29, df = 3) and the second (chi-square = 3.22, df = 3) hypotheses. A statistically significant difference was found (chi-square = 83, df = 1) for the third hypothesis. ...